Method of and means for establishing electrical circuits



A. A. RADTKE. I METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR ESTABLISHING ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 8, 1919.

Patented Aug. 24, 1920.

fizva rzin" UNITED STATES ALBERT A. RAD'IKE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR Application filed September 8, 1919.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT A. RADTKE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of and Means for Establishing Electrical Circuits, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a method of establishing or closing a circuit in which considerable energy is needed for operating a device, but where the directive and controlling apparatus is delicate and sensitive, and actuated by very feeble energy. The primary object of my invention is to cause a current to fiowin such a circuit by the aid of sensitive apparatus of the kind described without producing mechanical movement of any elements of the circuit, such as the completing of the circuit .by the closing of metallic contacts. A further object of my invention is to be able to close any one of a number of circuits in accordance with the position taken by a delicate selective movable member, without subjecting it to any mechanical strain whatever.

In order that the invention may be readily understood, reference is had to the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating conventionally one way in which the invention can be carried out; and

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary transverse section showing the relation of the controlling element to the circuit terminals.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the selecting or controlling device may consist of any indicating or recording device in the nature of a DArsonval galvanometer, having a field frame 2 which is either a permanent magnet, or an electromagnet energized by means of a winding 1, fed from a source of direct current 1. The moving system 3 of the instrument carries the usual needle or pointer 4, and is constructed to give dead beat indications.

Adjacent to but out of contact with the end of the pointer, is located a continuous curved bar 5, and a series of individual wire terminals 6 spaced slightly from the bar 5, and lying in the same plane. \Vires leading from the terminals 6 extend into the vicinity of a number of arc gaps, having arc electrodes 7 and 8. The said wires terminate in Specification of Letters Patent.

ESTABLISHING ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS.

Patented Aug. 24., 1920.

Serial N 0. 322,449.

sparking points 6 adjacent the arc electrodes 7, while the electrodes 8 are connected together by a common wire 9, which connects with the secondary of an induction coil 10, and also with one side 20, of a source of low tension energy 11. The other end of the secondary of the induction coil 10 is connected to the common bar 5 b means of the wire 12. The primary circuit of the induction coil is energized by a battery 13 through the wires 14 and 15, and has the customary vibrator 16 interposed therein for the interruption of the circuit. The upper electrodes 7 of the arc gaps are connected with conductors 17 which extend to a wire 19 forming the other side of the source of low tension energy 11, and interposed in the conductors 17 are suitable translating devices 18. These are illustrated as in the nature of solenoids, and may be employed either to perform some mechanical function direct, or to operate switches for controlling circuits conveying larger amounts of en- The pointer 4, as shown in Fig. 2, is spaced slightly above and out of contact with the bar 5 and terminals 6, so as to overlie the same. It will be understood that the resistance of the several gaps in series in the various circuits with which terminals 6 connect is so great as to normally prevent passage of even the high voltage current from the secondary of coil 10. When, however, the size of t e gap at a terminal 6 is reduced by the action of the pointer 4, as shown in Fig. 2, the total resistance of that particular circuit is decreased to a point where the current from coil 10 is able to jump across the gaps.

The operation of the device is as follows:

WVhen the pointer moves to a position opposite to any one of the terminals 6, as described, and the primary circuit of the induction coil is closed, the pointer will partially bridge the gap between the bar 5 and adjacent terminal 6 and thus cause the high tension current from the secondary of the induction coil to jump across such gap, and also across the series gaps between the corresponding sparking point 6 and electrode 7, and between the electrodes 7 and 8. The passage of the spark across the gap between the electrodes breaks down the resistance of such gap and starts an are which is fed from the low tension source 11, thus causing current from such source to traverse one of the translating devices'18 and operate the same. i

It will thus be seen that as the pointer 4 moves from adjacent one terminal 6 to another, a spark will jump across the gaps in the circuit connected with the corresponding terminal, and start an are between the electrodes, thus energizing the corresponding translating device 18. It is therefore obvious that the energization of the translating devices is controlled by the movement of the pointer, without contacts, and without the movement of any other element whatever, and it will be apparent that I have provided simple and effective means, responsive to the position of the pointer, for selectively causing the flow of current in any one of a plurality of circuits.

What I claim is 1. The hereindescribed method of causing low tension current to flow in a circuit having a plurality of gaps, which consists in inducing a high potential discharge through that part of the circuit having the gaps by decreasing the size of one of the gaps, and thus braking down the resistance of the other gap and establishing an are.

2. The hereindescribed method of causing low tension current to flow across a gap in a circuit, which consists in providing a second gap in series with the first, impressing a high voltage across both gaps, and reducing the size of the second gap until such voltage causes a discharge through the gaps, thus starting an arc across the first gap.

3. The combination with an electric circuit containing a source of current, a translating device, and a gap, of means independent of said circuit for creating a high potential discharge across said gap, thereby breaking down its resistance and establishing an arc, thus causing current to flow through said translating device.

l. The combination with an electric circuit containing a source of current, a translating device, and a gap, a second gap connected in series with the first but in shunt with the translating device, a source of high voltage current connected in series with said gaps but insufficient to jump across them, and means for reducing the resistance of the second gap sufficiently to cause a high voltage discharge through both gaps, thus establishing an arc across the first gap.

5. The combination with an electric circuit containing a source of current, a translating device, and a gap, of a second gap in series with the first, a source of high voltage current in series with said gaps, but insutlicient to jump across them, and a movable element adapted to partially bridge said second gap and thus cause a high voltage discharge through both gaps.

6. The combination with a plurality of circuits, each having a gap, and a source of current connected with such gap, of electrically operated means for selectively causing a high voltage discharge across any one of said gaps so as to establish an are fed from said source.

7. The combination with a plurality of circuits, each containing a t'anslating device and a gap, of a source of current connected with said gaps, and means for selectively creating a! high voltage discharge across any one of said gaps so as to establish an arc in the corresponding circuit, thus causing current from said source to flow through the translating device in such circuit.

8. The combination with a plurality of circuits, each having a gap, and a source of current connected with such gap, of means for selectively causing a high voltage discharge across any one of said gaps so as to establish an arc in the corresponding circuit, said means comprising a movable element, and electrical means for actuating the same.

i). The combination with an electrical instrument of the galvanometer type having a movable pointer, of a pluraltiy of circuit terminals disposed adjacent said pointer but always out of contact therewith, a plurality of normally open circuits connected with said terminals, a source of current, and means responsive to the position of said pointer relative to said terminals for causing current to flow from said source through any one of said circuits.

In testimony whereof I atiix my signature.

ALBERT A. RADTKE. 

